History

Weathertop overlooked the Great East Road east of Bree, about midway between The Shire and Rivendell. The hill rose a thousand feet above the level lands round about, and was the site of a watchtower in the days of Arnor. The watchtower and fortifications were burned and destroyed in T.A. 1409, but the top was still flat and surrounded by a ring of stones. A path led from the top northward, connecting to the other fortresses of the Weather Hills. The tower originally held one of the seven Palantíri.

In early October T.A. 3019, it was the scene of two fights involving Nazgûl; one with Gandalf and one with the Ring-bearer. After fleeing from Bree, Strider and the Hobbits avoided the main road and approached Weathertop from the north. At the top they discovered a cairn with a message from Gandalf, and spotted the Ringwraiths approaching in the distance along the road. That night, the Ringwraiths attacked their camp in a dell below the summit, stabbing Frodo with a Morgul blade, but were driven off by the others.

Inspiration

Possibly the Rednal Hill of the Lickey Hills, Worcestershire, England.

"The boys [ Ronald and Hilary ] had the freedom of these grounds [Rednal, Worcestershire], and further afield they could roam the steep paths that led through the trees to the high Lickey Hill"